Cotter pin spreader



Sept. 21, 1943. J, M, SCHULTZ COTTER PIN SPREADER Filed Dec. 15, 1942 magi: W In.

Mill

Patented Sept. 21, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFF-ICE COTTER PIN SPREADER Joseph Mathew Schultz, Chicago, Ill.

Application December 15, 1942, Serial No. 469,112

,1 Claim.

This invention relates to mechanical appliances with particular reference to hand operated tools for the specific purpose of opening cotter pins, after they have been passed through work parts, whereby to hold them safely and securely.

The common use of cotter pins to secure nuts, collars and the like, is well known; also the dimculty and time taken in separating their extending pronged ends, usually accomplished by inserting a chisel, followed by blows from a hammer.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a simple, inexpensive implement suited to spread the prongs of a cotter pin, with a single operation, effectively and expeditiously.

This object is accomplished by the novel and practical construction, combination and arrangement of few and simple parts hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, constituting a component of this disclosure, and in which:

Figure 1 is an end View of a conventional shaft having a cotter pin therein.

Figure 2 is a similar view of the same, showing the pin prongs as opened.

Figure 3 is a side view of an embodiment of a spreader made in accordance with the invention, parts being broken away to show the construction.

Figure 4 is a front edge view of the same.

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view loo-king on line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Referring to the drawing in greater detail, it will be seen that the tool is composed of a G shaped metal frame, generally designated by the numeral I5, made in two equal parts I6 and I1 rigidly united, as by screws I8.

The outer portion of the frame is curved to produce a jaw I9 on which is fixed a plate 26 con-v taining an opening 2 I, part of which is formed in a cap 22, the opening having a passageway 23 through which may be passed the rounded end 24 of a cotter pin 25, its prongs 26 extending through a shaft X.

At the opposite end of the tool is an arm 21 having an integral sleeve 28, containing a bore 29 in which is slidably mounted a spindle 3'0 provided with a cross piece handle 3 I.

A key 32, set in the sleeve prevents the spindle from turning and it will be seen that the axis of the spindle is in register with the opening 2 I.

Attached to the inner end of the spindle 30 is a square head 33 held in adjusted position by a I cotter pin, forcing them apart as seen in Figure 2.

In operation the shaft X previously drilled and a cotter pin inserted therein, is laid in the concave recess 38 of the plate 22, the head of the pin entering the opening 2 I, whereupon a smart blow on the handle 3| opens the pin and completes the operation.

Obviously the parts 2|] to 23 inclusive will be made in correspondence with the size of the cotter pin to be used.

Having thus described the invention and set forth the manner of its construction and application, what is claimed as new and sought to secure by Letters Patent, is:

A cotter pin spreader comprising a bar having an arcuate bow at one end, a block carried on the inreaching end of said bow, the free end of said block having a slotted opening to receive the rounded end of a cotter pin, an arm on the other end of o prevent relative rotation of said shank and plunger, a wedge shaped spreader interchangeably screw threaded on the inner end of said plunger, said spreader having two opposite faces converging into a sharp edge at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the plunger and aligned with said slotted opening, said opposite faces being slightly hollowed out near and along said sharp edge so as to present a Wedge terminating in a sharp edged, acute angular end portion adapted to enter between the prongs of a cotter pin, said end portion blending into a spreader portion, the opposite faces of which include an obtuse angle, and a nut to adjustably retain said spreader on said plunger.

JOSEPH MATHEW SCHULTZ. 

